The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-18

at the Auction street enc OF the press.
Singing out one of them, The reporter
called him aside, and soon learned that he
was an employe in the pres that was then
burning. lie stated that he was at work
near the northwest wins OF the build
ing when he heard the alarm of
fire. Looking up, he discovered smoke
issuing from the cotton piled in that end
OF the building. lie, together with other
employees, promptly answered the alarm
and assisted with the hose, but there was
little or no water TO be had, However,
they fought the fire until sheet after sheet
of flame issued from between the crcvccs
of the burning bales. Then il was that
they had TO abandon the hose and flee for
their lives. After being forced from there,
and seeing that all hope Of saving that
press was gone, he, together with the bal
ancc OF the men, rushed down toyprcss No,
). There they again got hose but were
powerless TO do anything ON account OF the
small supply OF water
FORMER DIsASIrRS.
The old navy yard has hgcn the scene OF
many disastrous fires before, aside from II
score or more Of criminal incidents which
have too often put its name inf the lips OF
every citizen in the city. The gluund on
which last night stood u mammoth bust
ness structure, aud in whose walls WAS piled
hundreds OF thousands OF dollars OF prop
crty, has history too lengthy and inter
esiing TO be detailed in cursory glance OF
another episode which ~ wildly and ter
rifcally calls il 10 mind In 1871 Con
grcss directed that naval yard be
built on the Mississippi below the mouth
of the Ohio river. and In lSia commission
crs were appointed who selected the spot
at the mouth OF Wolf river. Extensive
plans were at once commenced Tor all the
necessary structure of an immense naval
fort. Large and costly buildings were be-
gun, aud some of them completed. when,
after the expenditure OF about - 800. 900,
up 10 the year 1856. the government
abandoned the project, and generously
granted the entire buildings and grounds
to the city. Later the city pledged the
valuable property for itssubscnption 10 the
bonds for the construction NJ the Memphis
q Little Rock railroad IN the meantime,
and several years before the buildings and
grounds were sold Ia satisfy these bonds,
the city rented the largo building, which
had been erected at u cO~t ot about so.
900, Tor the use oi the commandants, tO the
| Memphis x Ohio nilrupd company, who
used il for cloEical and other business
| purposes. In 1868. by some nc.
| cidcnt, this magnificent building
was destroyed hy fine, and for ycarS after
ward IFS grand Corinthian columns, stand
ING like grim scniincls In front OF the
tcnantless walls, imposing even in thcil
nakcdncss, was q sight Ia bc remarked
/ and which told ol the Ruthless uNagvs O
| fire. When the grounds were sold they
were divided up in lots and purchased by
various parties. Tho next most dis
astrous fire was in 1857, whcr
/ 500 bales OF cotton were burned
/ together with one or two ~ the compress
sheds. Again in 1886, on the night Whcr
| 7. II. Sims mill wis burning un Bcal,
street, an alarm was turned IN and the en-
gines had 10 be- divided, portion 81 then
being hurried to the navy yar ~ pui ou
fire in Ellis cotton shed. which mckil,
WIS gotten under cuntuDl before IL lid an!
great damage.
MESDESnALL NrFNi-Wru.
W. Mcndcnhall was srer by an ArrrA
reporter in his cell ~ a late hour In.
night and in answer a. questions nad'
the following statement:
Between Tand SorlHck last night wa
riding on an engine in the navy ward
ON invitation 1T the engineer. who IL M
old friend of mine. left the engine abou
5 O'Clock and started ~ nav boarding
house. The nearest way was through ih,
compress, and started through that build
ing. | was midway when ! heard th,
alarm Of fire. Thinking thar could bc o
some assistance, ] mn back md took hol,
of the hose. 4 young man name,
Enright, with whom I aiu we'll acquainted
told me IN g't out. compiled and NhcI
outside was arrested by Oniccr nohcry
| ana told that the chasc against me !,
arson, but il j. false. Ali did in III,
&c.. a.. T.. 80 "a Al.